JP2006221265A - Store print device, print order processing method, and print order processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to perform an additional order at any timing regardless of the completion of print processing. <P>SOLUTION: When reading of images is completed (S7), a settlement section 72c controls a shutter mechanism 79, opens an input port 84, and cancels prohibition of cash input (S8). A charge calculation section 72b calculates a print price when cash is inputted. When the price calculation section 72b determines that the inputted cash amount is the print price or more, an order receiving section 72a enables an operation of a "print start" button btn1 (S10). When the order receiving section 72a receives the pressing of the "print start" button btn1, a print data processing section 91 creates print job data according to order information, and sends it to each printer 90. Unless a "print order termination" button btn2 is pressed, the order receiving section 72a stands by for input of new information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing a print order in a storefront printing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, storefront printing apparatuses that are installed in storefronts of various stores and print images freely brought by customers have become widespread. In the conventional storefront printing apparatus, after the customer confirms the order contents and inserts the price, the printing process is started, and the order receiving function is stopped until the printing process is completed. For example, according to Patent Document 1, when a button for starting printing is pressed by touching the screen, the printer automatically prints the number of images selected by the customer sequentially in sequence. During printing, a screen indicating that printing is in progress is displayed on the display means. When all printing is completed, a print completion screen is displayed on the display means. The print vending apparatus prompts the customer to confirm whether to end or to perform another print. In the state of the print end screen, when the customer instructs the end by touching the screen, if there is a remainder obtained by subtracting the price from the deposited amount, it is returned as change from the charging means, and the processing is ended. When the customer instructs further printing, the customer returns to the image data browsing screen and receives a new print order.
JP 2002-329250 A

  In the store printing apparatus of Patent Document 1, since the screen returns to the browsing screen upon completion of the printing process, a new order cannot be made unless the printing process is completed. That is, even if the user once decides the contents of the print order and wants to place an additional print order during the print process, nothing can be done until the print process is completed. Once the printing process is started, it takes a few minutes to a dozen minutes until the process is completed. Therefore, waiting for nothing during this time may cause dissatisfaction to the customer and lead to the separation of the user. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user to make an additional order at an arbitrary timing unrelated to the end of print processing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an over-the-counter printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an order receiving unit that receives input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints, and input of a print output start instruction, print order information The charge calculation unit that calculates the print fee based on the contents of the payment, the payment amount that is the amount appropriated for the payment of the print fee is entered and the payment unit that settles the print fee from the payment amount, the print order according to the payment An over-the-counter printing apparatus that includes a print output unit that prints an image according to information, wherein the settlement unit accepts an input of a payment amount at an arbitrary timing during the input of print order information, and the order reception unit allocates a payment Input of print output start instruction according to print order information is allowed when the amount is more than the print fee To, and print the output unit performs the print output in accordance with the print order information in response to the input of the start instruction of the print output, the order accepting unit accepts the input of continued new print order information after the input of the start instruction of the print output.

  The over-the-counter printing apparatus according to the present invention can input a payment appropriate amount at any timing during the input of print order information, and can continue to input new order information as long as the input amount is equal to or greater than the print fee. . For this reason, it is possible to perform print output sequentially from the order information entered sequentially by the customer while securing the amount required for the settlement of the print fee first, and in particular, in parallel with the print output according to the order information entered earlier. It is also possible to input new order information.

  The order receiving unit may receive an input of a print order end instruction, and the settlement unit may settle the print fee in response to the input of the print order end instruction.

  The storefront printing apparatus may further include a display unit that displays that a print output start instruction can be input when the amount appropriated for payment is equal to or more than the print fee.

  The display unit may display a warning when the amount appropriated for payment is less than the print fee.

  A step of accepting input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints, and a step of accepting input of a payment appropriate amount which is an amount appropriated for payment of a print fee at an arbitrary timing during input of the print order information A step of calculating a print fee based on the contents of the print order information, a step of enabling input of a print output start instruction in accordance with the print order information when the amount appropriated for payment is equal to or more than the print fee, A print order processing method including a step of performing print output according to print order information in response to an input of an output start instruction, and a step of continuously receiving input of new print order information after the input of the print output start instruction It is included in the present invention.

  A step of accepting input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints, and a step of accepting input of a payment appropriate amount which is an amount appropriated for payment of a print fee at an arbitrary timing during input of the print order information A step of calculating a print fee based on the contents of the print order information, a step of enabling input of a print output start instruction in accordance with the print order information when the amount appropriated for payment is equal to or more than the print fee, A print order that causes a computer to execute a print output in accordance with print order information in response to an input of an output start instruction and a step of continuously receiving input of new print order information after the input of a print output start instruction A processing program is also included in the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to input the payment appropriate amount at an arbitrary timing during the input of the print order information, and as long as the input amount is equal to or more than the print fee, new order information can be input continuously. For this reason, it is possible to perform print output sequentially from the order information entered sequentially by the customer while securing the amount required for the settlement of the print fee first, and in particular, in parallel with the print output according to the order information entered earlier. It is also possible to input new order information.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a storefront printing apparatus 70 according to the present invention. In this storefront printing apparatus 70, a customer inserts a recording medium 50 (not shown) such as a smart medium into the insertion slot 89, inserts money, and prints a digital image stored in the recording medium 50 on a printing medium such as TA paper. It is a machine to do. The printing device 70 is a storefront information terminal installed at a storefront of various stores such as a photo shop, a bookstore, and a supermarket, and is normally used alone by a customer who purchases a print without the assistance of a store clerk.

  This storefront printing device 70 is provided with a liquid crystal type display device 80 in which a touch panel 98 is laminated on the front, and a customer operates the touch panel 98 while looking at the display device 80 to determine the print size, the number of prints, and the like. Enter the required information. One or more printers 90 (not shown) are installed inside the storefront printing apparatus 70, and each printer 90 prints a digital image. The storefront printing apparatus 70 of this embodiment is provided with a maximum of four printers 90. An outlet 82 through which the printed printing medium is discharged is provided on the outside of the front of the store printing apparatus 70, and cash such as coins and bills (or an equivalent prepaid card or the like) is provided in a coin machine 88 described later. A slot 84 is also provided, and a return slot 86 from which the coin machine 88 returns change is provided. Although not shown, a shutter mechanism 79 that opens and closes the insertion port 84 is provided in the vicinity of the insertion port 84. By closing the insertion port 84 with the shutter mechanism 79, it is possible to uniformly prohibit the insertion of cash or the like. It has become.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the storefront printing apparatus 70.

  When the customer inserts the recording medium 50 into the media insertion slot 89, the hard disk controller 74 loads the control software recorded on the hard disk (HDD) 75 into the program memory 71. The image data is recorded in the recording medium 50 in a compressed state. When the CPU 72 instructs the media reader controller 51 to read the image data, the required image data is acquired from the recording medium 50. The image processing unit 81 decompresses the image data and restores the original image data. Further, the image processing unit 81 performs necessary image processing and stores the image data in the work memory 76.

  The customer inputs various information regarding the print order such as selection of an image to be printed, the number of prints, and a print type from the touch panel 98. As the print type, <digital camera print / split print / sticker print / index print> can be designated. For divided printing, <16 division / 4 division / 2 division / no division> can be specified as the number of screen divisions. For the print size, <card size / L size / CD size / 2L size> can be selected. Hereinafter, the information regarding the print order input from the touch panel 98 is referred to as order information.

  Order information such as the print size and the number of prints is converted into an electrical signal corresponding to the position when the customer presses a desired position on the touch panel 98 and input to the CPU 72 via the touch panel interface unit 97.

  The input information is displayed on the display device 80. The display device 80 is operated by the display control unit 78. The coin machine 88 converts the amount displayed on the display device 80 based on information input from the touch panel 98 into an electrical signal, and inputs the electrical signal to the CPU 72 via the coin machine I / F unit 87. The CPU 72 confirms whether or not the customer has entered a necessary amount. When the necessary amount is input, the print data processing unit 91 creates print job data from the image data stored in the work memory 76 and sends the print job data to each printer 90 via the printer I / F unit 85. send. The CPU 72 performs a series of these controls.

  Each printer 90 employs a printing system called a TA system, and uses TA paper having a characteristic that color is developed when heat is applied and fixing is performed when light of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated.

  When the printing is completed, a receipt describing the amount inserted into the coin machine 88 and the amount of change returned is output from the receipt printer 92. The contents printed by the receipt printer 92 are instructed by the CPU 72 via the receipt printer I / F unit 93.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a program executed by the CPU 72. The CPU 72 executes an order receiving unit 72a, a charge calculating unit 72b, and a settlement unit 72c, which are programs. These programs are stored in the HDD 75, and the CPU 72 appropriately reads the program memory 71 and executes them. Details of the contents of processing executed by these programs will be described later.

  The order receiving unit 72 a receives input of order information through the operation of the touch panel 98. The order information received by the order receiving unit 72a is temporarily stored in the work memory 76 or the HDD 75. The fee calculation unit 72b calculates a print fee based on the contents of the print order information. For example, if the unit price of printing per image is a yen and the number of prints is b, the print fee is calculated as a * b yen.

  The settlement unit 72c settles the print fee by subtracting the print fee from the amount of cash inserted into the coin machine 88. The amount of cash inserted into the coin machine 88 is input from the coin machine 88 to the settlement unit 72c, and the settlement unit 72c temporarily stores the input amount in the work memory 76 or the HDD 75.

  The storefront printing apparatus 70 according to the present invention accepts the insertion of cash at an arbitrary timing during the input of order information. Furthermore, if an instruction to start printing is received, and the input amount is equal to or greater than the print fee at the time of this instruction, print job data is created according to the input order information and printed out, and a new order information Wait for input.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the print order process of the storefront printing apparatus 70.

  First, the display control unit 78 displays a top menu screen on the display device 80 (S1). On the top menu screen, various services such as a print service and a media recording service can be selected by pressing the touch panel 98 (S2). When the print service is selected on this screen, the display control unit 78 causes the display device 80 to display a screen prompting the user to insert the recording medium 50 into the insertion port 89 (S3).

  The order receiving unit 72a determines whether or not the recording medium 50 has been inserted into the insertion port 89 (S4). If it is determined that it has been inserted, the process proceeds to S5. If it is determined that it has not been inserted, the process returns to S1.

  The order receiving unit 72a receives a confirmation input from the touch panel 98 as to whether or not to start reading an image from the recording medium 50 (S5). When there is a confirmation input, the media reader controller 51 reads a thumbnail image from the recording medium 50. The display control unit 78 displays that the image is being read on the display device 80 until the reading is completed (S6). When the reading of the image is completed, the display control unit 78 displays a print order screen for inputting order information on the display device 80 (S7).

  FIG. 5 is a display example of a print order screen. In this screen, a list of thumbnail images read from the recording medium 50 is displayed, and the customer operates the touch panel 98 by pressing a display portion of a graphical user interface (GUI) to select thumbnail images. It is possible to input desired order information such as designation of the number of prints. The order receiving unit 72 a stores the input order information in the work memory 76.

  In this screen, a “print start” button btn1 and a “print order end” button btn2 which are GUIs for instructing the start of print output are displayed. This button has an input amount to the coin machine 88 higher than the print fee. Unless it becomes, it is in an “invalid” state in which the pressing operation is not accepted.

  That is, the settlement unit 72c controls the shutter mechanism 79 so that cash can be inserted at an arbitrary timing during the input of the order information. The settlement unit 72c controls the shutter mechanism 79 to open the insertion slot 84 and prohibit cash insertion during the period from the top menu display to the image reading (S1 to S6). When the reading of the image is completed (S7), the settlement unit 72c controls the shutter mechanism 79 to open the insertion port 84 to cancel the prohibition of cash insertion, and cash can be inserted anytime as long as the order information is being input. Like that. If the prohibition of cash input is lifted, the customer can input cash at an arbitrary timing (S8).

  When there is cash input, the fee calculation unit 72b calculates the print fee according to the order information that has been input at the present time. Then, the payment appropriate amount, which is the amount of cash inserted, is compared with the print fee, and it is determined whether or not the payment appropriate amount is equal to or greater than the print fee (S9). If it is determined that the payment appropriate amount is equal to or greater than the print fee, the process proceeds to S10, and if it is determined that the payment appropriate amount is less than the print fee, the process returns to S7.

  The order receiving unit 72a sets the operation of the “print start” button btn1 to the “valid” state, that is, the state in which the pressing operation of the “print start” button btn1 can be received (S10). In accordance with this, the display control unit 78 displays that it is possible to input a print output start instruction. The display content is arbitrary. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the tone of the “print start” button btn1 may be changed, or a message box may be popped up to operate the “print start” button btn1. May be indicated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined that the payment appropriate amount is less than the print fee, the display control unit 78 may display a warning to that effect on the display device 80 and then return to S7.

  The order receiving unit 72a waits for the “print start” button btn1 to be pressed after setting the operation of the “print start” button btn1 to “valid”. When the order accepting unit 72a accepts pressing of the “print start” button btn1, the print data processing unit 91 prints the specified number of original images of the selected thumbnail images in the designated type according to the input order information. Print job data is created, and the print job data is sent to each printer 90 via the printer I / F unit 85. Each printer 90 prints an image according to the print job data. The printed matter is discharged from the outlet 82. On the other hand, when the order reception unit 72a receives the press of the “print start” button btn1, the order reception unit 72a sets the “invalid” state in which the press operation of the “print start” button btn1 is impossible.

  The order receiving unit 72a waits for an input of a print order end instruction by pressing the “print order end” button btn2 (S11). The process returns to S7 unless the order acceptance unit 72a accepts pressing of the “print order end” button btn2, and the order acceptance unit 72a waits for input of new order information from the print order screen. When the order receiving unit 72a receives the press of the “print order end” button btn2, the process proceeds to S12, and displays on the display device 80 that the print order process is ended. At the same time, the fee calculation unit 72b calculates the total amount of the print fee according to the order information for which the print output has been completed, and the settlement unit 72c uses the amount obtained by subtracting the total amount of the print fee as the change amount from the return port 86 as change. return. Then, the process returns to S1.

  As described above, the storefront printing apparatus 70 according to the present invention can input cash at any timing during the input of order information, and inputs new order information as long as the input cash is equal to or higher than the print fee. it can. For this reason, it is possible to sequentially print out the order information sequentially input by the customer. In particular, new order information can be input in parallel with the print output according to the previously input order information.

The front view of the shop front printing apparatus which concerns on preferable embodiment of this invention Block diagram of store printing device Block diagram showing the program executed by the storefront printing device Flow chart showing the flow of print order processing The figure which shows the example of a display of the print order screen where a print start instruction is impossible The figure which shows the example of a display of the print order screen in which a print start instruction is possible Figure showing a warning display example

Explanation of symbols

50: Recording medium, 70: Store printing device, 71: Program memory, 72: CPU, 74: Hard disk controller, 75: Hard disk, 76: Work memory, 78: Display control unit, 80: Display device, 81: Image processing unit 51: Media reader controller, 85: Printer interface unit, 87: Coin machine interface unit, 88: Coin machine, 90: Printer, 91: Print data processing unit, 92: Receipt printer, 93: Receipt printer interface unit, 97: Touch panel interface unit, 98: Touch panel

Claims (6)

An order receiving unit that receives input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints, and an input of a print output start instruction, a charge calculation unit that calculates a print fee based on the contents of the print order information, and the print A payment unit, which is an amount appropriated for payment of a fee, is input, and a settlement unit that settles the print fee from the amount appropriated for payment, and a print that prints out an image according to the print order information according to the settlement An over-the-counter printing apparatus including an output unit,
The settlement unit accepts an input of the payment appropriation amount at an arbitrary timing during the input of the print order information,
The order reception unit enables an input of a print output start instruction according to the print order information when the payment appropriate amount is equal to or more than the print fee,
The print output unit performs print output according to the print order information in response to an input of the print output start instruction,
The order reception unit is an over-the-counter printing apparatus that continuously receives input of new print order information after inputting the print output start instruction. The order receiving unit receives an input of a print order end instruction,
The storefront printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the settlement unit settles the print fee in response to input of an instruction to end the print order.   The storefront printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays that the start instruction of the print output can be input when the payment appropriate amount is equal to or more than the print fee.   The storefront printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display unit displays a warning when the payment appropriate amount is less than the print fee. Receiving input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints;
Receiving an input of a payment appropriate amount that is an amount appropriated for payment of a print fee at an arbitrary timing during the input of the print order information;
Calculating a print fee based on the content of the print order information;
Enabling the input of a print output start instruction according to the print order information when the payment appropriation amount is equal to or greater than the print fee;
Performing a print output according to the print order information in response to an input of the print output start instruction;
Continuously accepting input of new print order information after inputting the print output start instruction;
Including print order processing method. Receiving input of print order information including designation of an image to be printed and the number of prints;
Receiving an input of a payment appropriate amount that is an amount appropriated for payment of a print fee at an arbitrary timing during the input of the print order information;
Calculating a print fee based on the content of the print order information;
Enabling the input of a print output start instruction according to the print order information when the payment appropriation amount is equal to or greater than the print fee;
Performing a print output according to the print order information in response to an input of the print output start instruction;
Continuously accepting input of new print order information after inputting the print output start instruction;
A print order processing program that causes a computer to execute.

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